#fenixtj

Dinner turns out to be wonderful, and while Clem isn't as chatty as Vali , she can spin a good yarn "And there she was, in the rafters!"

A good-natured sigh. "You know -why-, Clem."

"I know NOW, yes," clem says "But at the time I was wondering what was wrong with a perfectly good floor, or if you'd been raised like Tarzan by Slaugh"

"Hmmph."

"We hit it off pretty well I thought, she had her needs, I had my frustrations with the farm..."

Buck sits enraptured, delighted to learn more of Clem by hearing more of 'Westward'

Otem also looks intrigued "There are some tribes where young braves also must explore, they look without to look within"

"It is not an uncommon rite of passage." Jess agrees with dignity.

"Well, we have that too, but we tend to call it 'getting antsy'" Clem smiles just a bit

"That's the techincal term at the FarmHold." Jess agrees.

"And yet you DeBukes do get out" Buck points out "You've got DeBukes here, at Rivervale, at Dark Gate, and Brightwinds, and Earth RUnes."

"Well, yes" clem says to both

Jess gestures that Buck has a point.

Clem blushes "Well, lots of folks do want a taste of something different, and it broadens us all"

"Also," Otem notes "They can report far off dangers to you sooner. Like Scouts"

Clem tilts her head at Otem "You're a brightfellow, Otem"

Jessica takes a bite, if for no other reason that the boggans monitor her....

"I thank you" Otem says "Does it work well wiht you? We find oursselves accused by some of being spies when we try the same"

Clem says "Well, we have the edge on you. We may share a surname, and not always even then, but we're trolls, or troll kin, already part of kithain society, we have right of haven and more, and our kith tends to be thought of well by our cousins"

"Your kith is often oppoosed to uthe Nunehi down here" Otem says "or so it seems"

"That's because trolls have been set up as scapegoats for Noble ambitions down here" Clem says "A rich sidhe's war and a poor troll's fight"

Jessica looks a little uncomfortable. "Trolls are Dreams of Duty." she adds "We serve our duty, wherever it may be."

"Well, duty doens't mean we have to work for every..." Clem clamps down "Pardon, Westward, I shouldn't talk politics over dinner"

"Thanks, Clem." grateful understanding.

"Well, I've met some good folk I didn't expect in all walks" Buck says "Baron Aiden and i probably don't agree on a lot, but he seems a good man. And so far I've never met a Chief I didn't like" He nudges Clem

Clem blushes

"You should met Waking-Bear," Otem says "he didn't get that name by being friendly"

Jess gives Otem a dryly amused look. "I'd like to."

"I can introduce you, but he can be.. abrasive" Otem says

Clem smirks at something

"In theory, Tweak answers to me." Jess's expression doesn't change.

"Nice Theory" Clem chuckles

"Exactly."

"Is she truly disloyal?" Otem looks troubled

"Oh, not disloyal" Clem says "One can be loyal without always being agreeable, or even obedient"

Jessica nods agreement.

"Anyway. Eventually I found an adventure that led me here, and ... here I stayed."

"And it is well you did" Otem nods "or we never would have gottten this far"

She nods. "I did not take enjoyment from the need, but something needed to be done."

"There's joy in the work if you search for it" clem nods

Buck looks at his lady amused at something, his face a grin trheatening to break out

"What?" clem says

"Sorry Clem, but you LOVE ordering folks about. You do it because you care, but you do love it"

"Do not" clem fusses "Now don't forget your peas"

Jess wisely just takes a sip of her juice, and eats some more.

Otem arches a brow, looks at Jessica, and then, does as she does and has a sip of juice

Buck grins, but also eats his peas

"We had a dandy time by the beach, it's not the prettiest beach to mortal eyes but it cleans up nicely to see the Near Dreaming about it" Clem smiles

Jessica nods. "There are times of the day when it's stunning."

"I have to admit, we need to avoid crowds" BUck admits "We centaurs tend to want room."